I GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's over! No offense to my five readers, but I never want to write in this blog or a similar blog again. Ever. I got the job I wanted, the one I mentioned in my last post, and I am thrilled to bid good riddance to Monster, CareerBuilder, HotJobs, the daily classifieds, resume and cover letters, interviews and pointless career fairs. Job hunting sucks a big one and I hope to never take a good job, or any job, for granted again.

Here is the final tally:

Applications Submitted: 66
Interview Invitations: 5
Direct Rejections: 9 (the others didn't respond at all)
Time Spent Hunting: 81 days

I found the job I got in the Sunday classifieds and almost didn't apply because I didn't have experience in a certain kind of software. I think I got an interview because I was one of the first to apply and I think I got the job because I took a lot of time on the editing test, (the manager said everyone bombed it but me) and because an employee gave me a helpful hint. I will have to buy that woman a beer someday. I still maintain that finding a job depends a lot on luck, timing and connections. If I were to give anyone advice I'd say apply, apply, apply and try to keep a positive attitude. I know better than anyone how difficult that can be. I'd also say don't bother with career fairs. Before the woman called me today, my husband and went to our third career fair and it was just as big a waste of time as the previous two. In my experience, most of the employers at career fairs will tell you to check their company website and apply online. A few are annoyingly smug and will say they don't have anything for you. Why bother dressing up and driving downtown to hear something you already know? I know many people will probably disagree with me, but that is the experience my husband and I have had. The woman called at a nearly perfect time to tell me I had the job. I was feeling so frustrated and low. The only way it could have been better is if she'd called at the career fair itself.

Wish me luck with my new job. I am going to bust my ass to pay back the hiring manager for giving me a chance. I told her that. Perhaps I was over excited but enthusiasm rarely hurts. I start Monday at 7:30. Thank god!!!!!!

The Job Hunting Lottery

The interview, like most interviews I've had this time around, seemed to go well. The manager didn't ask any of the typical interview questions. She just explained the duties of the position, asked if I was interested and had me take an editing test. I spent a lot of time and attention on the test, as I've had trouble with editing in the past, so hopefully I didn't miss anything (or too much). After talking with me, the manager sent another employee into the room for me to speak with and the employee gave me a hint about the test. The test was in the form of a letter and the employee told me to change the date. Most people (and I would have made the same mistake) assume the letter is an old sample and leave the date alone. When I handed the test back to the manager she was all impressed, saying something like "I've interviewed 25 pepole and you're the only one to catch the date!" I felt guilty, but how could I not change the date after the employee went out of her way to give me a hint? I did accidently write 2007 instead of 2008 so maybe that will even things out. The manager told me she hoped to make a decision by the end of the week (which would have been Friday) but I haven't heard anything yet. I am too hopeful about this job and more anxious than I've been about the others. I really want it because it's in a field I'm interested in, the pay is far higher than I expected and the company is laid back. My heart skipped a beat when I heard the phone ring this morning, but it was a call for my husband. All hope is not lost yet. Tomorrow my husband and I will trek to Career Fair #3.

This morning I got a completely unexpected call from a local theme park about a job I applied for on January 10th. I have an interview with them this Wednesday. I was very surprised because an HR person there sent me a rejection email not even a week ago. HR Anthony said no, HR Becky says maybe. Meanwhile, the television people still haven't called and they've changed their application closing date yet again. It's Friday, February 8th now. Are they trying to collect as many applications as possible? I've given up on them. The interview invitations have been so sparodic. Sometimes it seems potential employers just throw a batch of resumes in a bucket and choose who to interview at random. Getting a job is like winning the sweepstakes.